Mother’s paychecks go to bills, child care

The Portland Press Herald Toy Fund aims to provide toys for 7,000 children in Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox counties. Applications are being accepted and readers of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram are once again encouraged to put smiles on children’s faces during the holiday season.

Applications can be downloaded at pressheraldtoyfund.org or call 791-6672 to have one mailed to you, or pick one up at the Welcome Center desk on the fifth floor of One City Center in Portland.

Donations can also be made on the website or checks can be made out to the Portland Press Herald Toy Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 7310, Portland, ME 04112.

The campaign’s fundraising goal this year is $300,000. The total raised so far is $5,115.

Each day of the toy fund campaign, the Press Herald will run letters from applicants:

This March I welcomed my second child into the world in a different state. Ten days later my 5-year-old daughter and I found my mother dead in my house at age 48 with no apparent cause. After this life-changing event, I had to move my family to Maine to take care of my 14-year-old autistic brother and take over my mom’s house.

I have had to do major repairs on the house and still have a huge amount to do for my family to be here. I work full time, but my paychecks go to bills and child care.

Christmas is a hard time of year for my family, and I’d like for them to be happy. Thank you.

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